I used to believe that in the next stage of evolution we'd grow a third arm. That would be a sign that our bodies have adapted to one of the greatest physical impediments in human history: constantly having to pull out our smartphones to see if we have important messages.

But there's a less genetically drastic solution. A smartwatch can now deliver the most important and timely information straight to one of your existing wrists. And where
Samsung
and some smartwatch startups have failed to gain momentum, Google's new Android Wear may be the first viable wrist-top platform.

Starting next week you'll be able to get two of the first Android Wear smartwatches—the $199 Samsung Gear Live and the $229
LG
G Watch. But should you? Thanks largely to Google Now, the online personal assistant that prompts you with information you need, these feel like the first watches that are truly "smart." But there's still too much smartphone in them. I don't want something on my wrist that looks and acts like a phone.

Telling More Than Time

When you download the Android Wear app on your Android phone and pair it with the watch via Bluetooth, things start ticking. Just be warned, unless your phone is running Android 4.3 or higher, these watches are no more than chunky bracelets.

The screen constantly displays the time, with your choice of classic analog clock options, bright and fun digital layouts and some creative blends.

Swipe up on the 1.6-inch touch screen and tiny cards display key info such as phone notifications, the weather forecast and even how many steps you've taken.

It also shows Android Wear's real secret weapon: information from Google Now. The interface is easy; swiping left allows you to see more, a long swipe to the right dismisses the card.

You can also just tell the watch what to do. Its microphone is always listening for a voice prompt—"OK Google"—and spoken commands such as "search the Web," "send a text," "set a reminder," etc.

"OK Google, text Mom: I'm going to make the 3 p.m. train," I said into the watch as I was running through Penn Station. Even though my phone was buried in one of my many bags, the text message fired off.

Even in louder environments where I expected it to fail, the voice recognition was fairly accurate. And yes, when I raise my arm to my mouth, even to set a reminder to pick up toothpaste, I feel like a Secret Service agent.

Telling You What to Do

But what sets Android Wear devices apart from previous smartwatches is that they tell you what you need even before you realize you need it. Google Now, which mines Gmail, calendar, Web searches and other Google interactions, is a perfect fit for the wrist.

"You should leave now for Dave and Laura's rehearsal dinner," my wrist buzzed at 7:05 p.m. as I was blow-drying my hair. With one swipe to the left, Google told me there'd be traffic on the way to the restaurant. I ended up arriving seven minutes late—but I blame my uncooperative hair, not the watch.

ENLARGE

Thanks to Google Now, the Galaxy Gear Live displays how long it will take to get home using public transportation.
Jeffrey Cullen/The Wall Street Journal

Some updates are less vital, but still helpful. Having recently searched for "The Price is Right," my wrist buzzed to tell me the game show was going to be on in a few hours. Every morning, it tells me how long it will take to get to work on my usual subway route (albeit with an ugly, cartoony transportation scene).

Because Google can piece together all this information, it's hard to imagine any competing smartwatch platform, even Apple's own expected model, delivering such relevant and timely alerts. Of course, to reap those benefits it means trading Google access to a lot of your information.

Third-party apps are also starting to work with Android Wear. My Delta boarding pass appeared on the watch at the airport, after I checked in using the Android smartphone app.

Telling You What's Up

I just wish the software were as smart about notifications. Android Wear is designed to transmit all your phone's notifications to your watch. For someone like me, who gets a lot of mail, tweets and Facebook comments, that's a lot of wrist buzzing.

When it comes to this topic, there are two types of people, Google's director of Android engineering, David Singleton, told me. There are those who "love to have exactly the same content on their phone and watch because it gives them the comfort that they don't need to pull out their phones," he said. Then there are those, including me, who want a watch to report just what's important.

For that second user, there's simply not enough customization yet. Either I get buzzed every time someone emails me, or I don't get any email alerts at all. Sure, the watch helps me look at my phone less, but I'd prefer a middle ground, where my wrist vibrates only when my editor or fiancée emails me. Mr. Singleton says Google is working on contact-specific notifications and the next version of Android, due out this fall, will have deeper notification controls.

There are more signs of Android Wear's infancy. While third-party fitness apps like Nike will start to work with the software, the watch's current tracking capabilities don't go much beyond step counting. The Samsung model does have a heart-rate monitor, but for fitness you're still better off with a dedicated band.

Performance wise, the Samsung edged out the LG, which tended to stutter and lag. And for their bulk, both watches' battery lives should be better. They had to be charged at least once a day in proprietary charging cradles. Both screens are extremely hard to see in direct sunlight.

While the Samsung is slightly better than the LG in terms of design and screen quality, it's really like comparing the qualities of two bruised bananas. Both look like shrunken phones stuck to your wrist, rather than timeless accessories. Mr. Singleton says watches from Fossil and other traditional watchmakers are on the way. Motorola's Moto 360, due out this summer, is also more attractive, with a round, albeit rather large, face.

The first smartwatches from Google's platform are the smartest yet but buying one right now would be stupid. Not only are there more stylish Android Wear watches and improved software coming soon, but Apple is expected to release its own watch before the year's end.

For the time being, I'll still be digging in my bag for my phone—and wishing for that third arm.

"I used to believe that in the next stage of evolution we'd grow a third arm. That would be a sign that our bodies have adapted to one of the greatest physical impediments in human history: constantly having to pull out our smartphones to see if we have important messages."

Too much drama and neurosis, Joanna -- always needing immediate gratification -- and for what? It makes me feel that whatever is going to follow is going to be trite and foolish -- in terms of 'the big picture.'

For all of human evolution, we've managed to grow and develop as a species without the bother of such 'important messages'. I'm 67, and I've had probably only a handful of 'important messages' -- yet I've survived without having instant access to them. They came by snail-mail, land line or in person (best of all) .

I've got a Wenger Swiss Military watch -- $39 from Big 5 Sporting Goods -- and a land line and an iMac with DSL at home. Surprise -- I'm still alive and well and having a full life at the Coast.

Great piece... writing is improving! Logic very easy to follow. Humor just right. But a suggestion: Never use the world stupid. It sounds... stupid.

I'm sure you're tired of hearing it, but you have very big shoes to fill.

You are definitely getting there!

("However"... I did get a little confused at the end with you suggesting we wait until Apple comes out... "Because Google can piece together all this information, it's hard to
imagine any competing smart watch platform, even Apple's own expected
model, delivering such relevant and timely alerts.")

Your editor might have softened your warning at the end re: not buying anything now. For those of us with Android devices... why not, other than potentially more attractive units down the road? But some of "us" might like the Dick Tracy look.

Apple has its work cut out for it. Make it smaller with a better power source, hopefully solar. Dependence on bluetooth burdensomely tethers a wrist gadget to a phone. This means taking two gadgets everywhere. If AAPL gets it right it will be another great gadget that will sell like hot cakes and evolve over the years. If wrong then it will end up in your gadget assisted living drawer with so many others, like the Treo,Zune and Rio that you just can't bring yourself to throw away because that cost so much.

I bought a Timex "smartphone" 15 years ago for my middle school son that allowed me to text him when I was picking him up from school He was also able to get weather reports and other updates on it. While the Timex wasn't as fancy & versitile as these new phones, this concept is not new.

Just how much information do you need on your wrist instead of in your pocket? What kind of control freak monitors his life with this level of tenacity? And good luck getting a date wearing these things. For me, I'm sticking with my completely mechanical Omega Seamaster.

Having recently bought a Pebble smart watch I can say that you will either love it or leave it. The biggest issue that I see is style. The plastic bands and rubberized bodies are not exactly dressy. The new Pebble Steel does have a nice leather band and/or a nice black metal link band which gives it a very stylish look. Plus the gorilla glass is great. It lacks color and a touch screen, but makes up for that in other ways such as ease of use, good connectivity and essential apps.

I have been using the Samsung Gear since it came out. It was lacking, but was useful. Then they switched to Tizen. Bad mistake. Most of the great apps it supported went away. Now, I have ordered the Gear Live. It will arrive next week. If I liked the Gear, I should love the Gear Live since I use Google Now all the time. Of course, these may still be for those who do not mind bugs, but that is me. I sent my first email in 1979.

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